Beschrijving

The Parameters of Urban Fiscal Policy: Socioeconomic Change and Political Culture in San Francisco, 1860–1906 explores the intricate relationship between politics, socioeconomic development, and fiscal policy in a rapidly urbanizing San Francisco. Initially conceived as a social history, this work evolved into a nuanced examination of how municipal fiscal policies were shaped not only by structural socioeconomic forces but also by the strategies and ideologies of political actors. With a focus on municipal expenditures, taxation, and revenue, the book reveals how political culture and competition defined the parameters of fiscal decisions, challenging the assumption that urban public sectors are mere reflections of socioeconomic trends.

Through a combination of quantitative analysis and political history, the book uncovers surprising insights, such as the reluctance of 19th-century San Francisco politicians to expand public services, driven by an ingrained low-tax ethos and electoral strategy. This dynamic changed with the rise of progressive reformers in the 1890s, who reshaped fiscal policy to prioritize public investment. By bridging the \